fraud? now what?

rubberbullet

Hi there

I've received this evening a letter from the local British Transport Police saying that "you maybe a victim of a fraud in respect to the sale/purchase of a motor vehicle...please ring me on the above telephone number so the facts can be established."

I bought a second-hand vehicle from a decent bloke with a convincing story (daughter gone to university, selling the girlie car) who had advertised on Gumtree. Seemed genuine and pleasant enough. It's a banger, but no real problems with it. All the documentation is in order and checks online showed it had no record as being stolen.

Obviously I will speak to the police when I can but I wonder... what happens next?! Any advice/tips? Obviously also would rather not lose the car!

Thanks!

ttoli

rubberbullet wrote: »

Hi there

I've received this evening a letter from the local British Transport Police saying that "you maybe a victim of a fraud in respect to the sale/purchase of a motor vehicle...please ring me on the above telephone number so the facts can be established."

I bought a second-hand vehicle from a decent bloke with a convincing story (daughter gone to university, selling the girlie car) who had advertised on Gumtree. Seemed genuine and pleasant enough. It's a banger, but no real problems with it. All the documentation is in order and checks online showed it had no record as being stolen.

Obviously I will speak to the police when I can but I wonder... what happens next?! Any advice/tips? Obviously also would rather not lose the car!

Thanks!

Henrik

Quite why the BTP would contact you re a possible LOS (lost or stolen),is beyond me, is the letter/Number genuine?

Gene_Hunt_2

ttoli wrote: »

Quite why the BTP would contact you re a possible LOS (lost or stolen),is beyond me, is the letter/Number genuine?

Stolen from a station carpark/other railway property?

Gene_Hunt_2

rubberbullet wrote: »

I bought a second-hand vehicle from a decent bloke with a convincing story (daughter gone to university, selling the girlie car)

I'm not being funny but what do you expect from a decent con artist?

You wouldn't have bought it had the bloke appeared dodgy and his story didn't add up.

rubberbullet

That's true, and I think we'd all accept that.

Obviously it's not certain that it's a fraud relating to the guy I bought it from, it might be down the chain. Equally, I'm not convinced that it's for certain a stolen car - surely they would notify me of the fact that I've stolen goods, that I'm driving a stolen car (which hasn't been registered as such). All the paperwork is in order too.

Gene_Hunt_2

Have you rung BTP yet?

If it was stolen anywhere along the line and hasn't been returned to the owner it will always remain stolen.

rubberbullet

surely the car checks would show it up as being stolen? I've rung but the case officer won't be around for another hour or so

forgotmyname

Premium rate number or a genuine number that you can google?

the_big_fact_hunt

BTP are rail police and would not be involved in a crime regarding fraud, unless it was something to do with the railway

mikey72

Contact the BTP

http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/contacts.aspx

and ask them.

PsiDOC

Post the phone number they give you.
I suspect this is a con.